Hi all,
Can some one help decode?
thanks in advance
I am new here....hope I have posted correct......


VIN for my 68 Olds 442

Body tag for my 68 Olds 442

 

This might help.

344678M209854 -Vehicle Identification number, built in Lansing Mich.

Cowl

ST68-33667- Cutlass V8 Sport Coupe

214782 Lansing Build Number

TR-950 Black Bench seat interior.

R-2 (Paint) Scarlet lower color and black upper color.

BTW There were 1662 Cutlass Sport Coupes built in the 1968 model year.

Others may have something to add.

Wayne

 

This can't be correct because the "67" both in the VIN and on the cowl tag indicate convertible body style.

344678M209854

I decode this as a '68 442 convertible with V-8 engine built at Lansing.


On the cowl tag, the 12B indicates a production date of the second week (B) of December (12), so that would be December 1967 for a 1968 model car.

The first "3" on the cowl tag indicates Oldsmobile division. The next "36" would indicate Cutlass V-8 and not 442 V-8, but I think this is a well-documented issue with cowl tags on '68 442s built at Lansing. It's the VIN that confirms that the car is a 442.

 

My bad. You are correct. I don't know how I screwed that up. Thanks for the help.



Wayne

 

Here's a detailed breakdown of your VIN and trim tag. First, the VIN of 344678M209854.

3 = GM division = Oldsmobile
44 = model series = 4-4-2
67 = body type = convertible
8 = model year = 1968
M = assembly plant = Lansing MI
209854 = assembly plant sequential number

Now, the trim tag.

12B = time build code = December (12), second week of that month (B), 1967
ST 68 = style/model year = 1968
33667: 3 = GM division = Oldsmobile, 36 = model series = Cutlass V8 (note that the Cutlass V8 code was used on the trim tag; the true identity of the car as a 4-4-2 is in the VIN), 67 = body type = convertible
LAN = assembly plant = Lansing MI
214782 BODY = Fisher body number (this number has no relationship to the VIN; they are two separate numbers, one issued by Fisher, the other by the assembly plant, respectively)
TR 950 = interior color and front seat type = black interior with a bench seat (somewhat rare to have a bench seat in a '68 4-4-2 convertible; most have bucket seats)
R - 2 PAINT = lower body color and convertible top color = scarlet (R) with a black convertible top (2)

Randy C.
'68 4-4-2 convertible (with a bench seat as well!)
'69 4-4-2 convertible

 

Ok thanks guys,
so the R-2
R = red scarlet on the bottom
2 = black on the top
Is the 2 the same for a coupe that has a black top?

 

Yes, in 1968 a black vinyl top would also be coded as a "-2", except on Oshawa built cars, where a different paint code format was used.
A car with a PAINTED metal top would have a letter for the upper body color code in 1968, not a number.